The Correspondent October 1996 by The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong

THD

NT Tbe Officictl Pttblicatír,ttt

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tbe Foreign Corresportdenfs'Club ctf Hong Korry

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CHARLES R. "CI{ARLTE'' SMITH 1930-1996

THD GORRDSPONIIDNT October 1996

Fr:ofii ttre Presiderrt Recipe for survival

THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLTJB

Letrer:s

Correr stofja

2 Lower Albert Rord, Hong Kong

Telephore: 2521 1511 Fax:286a 4092 Giatnini President -John Pâul Ba)ûeld Fi¡st Vice President Karin Malmström Second vice Presldent

Charlie Smith

Conespondent Member Govemors Bob Davis, Robin Lynam, Michael Macke)', Kees M€tselaar, Jonathan Mirsky, Rob Mountfort, Keith Richburg, Chrisloplìer Slaughter, Hubert varì Es

Journalist Member Govemos Saul Lockhart, Fnncis Moriarq',

a4-

Lrrnctrlines Rights of passage

Cbailie Smitlr

Freedom of speech

L6-

l\zferrrlrers at Ianrge Cambodian paper celebrates fourth birthday

Associate Member Governors

william H

Areson, Jolìn Corbett, Ronatd Ling, Julian Wdsh

Professional

Comittee

a-7.

House

Comittee Liîg

Conuenor: Ronald,

Comittee

Fif,mce Conuenor:

wtlltlm

aa_

Entertaiment CorEútt€e nor': Karin Malmström

F & B Comittee Couuenor'; Robin Llnam

Wall Commltt€e

Taxi!

20-

Ch¡bs l\Terqs

22-

flole

Comittee

Con ue ttor: Paul

u et

n r:

Reciprocal Clubs

Btyfield

Freedom of the Press Con

to frole

Ceâucescu's paraclise

Conueuor; Bob Davis

Publications

Personal

Purel¡r

The elections

H. Are son

Memberelrip Committee Conue,rcr; Hubertvan Es C on ue

l\zfedia Electronic publishing: fiction and fact

Con ue trc r: Michael Mackel'

nîcis

Comittee M

oriart)'

24-

FCC General Manager Robeft Sanders

The Correspondent EDITORIAL OFFICE Jeff Heselwood, Editor Telephone: 2A5l 0493 Fax:2815 2530 2 Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong Telephone: 2521 15\l Fax:2868 4O92

l\l{errrl>ers at l:aîge Life after a stroke

'>a

FCC Golf Societ5r

2E-

Social

37--

People

@ t996 The Foreign Corespondents'

Ctub of Hong Kong Opinions expressed by vriters in 77Je Cortesþonderrf are not necessarily those of The Forei8n Correspondetìts' Club. TlJe Con'esþonder, is publ¡shed

monthly by

The Forei€Ìn Corespondents' Club ofHong Kong.

New members

32-

FCC Faces Ross Way

PRODUCTION FST Line Design &

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ì) I

et.lo Ar-LovúED To

Cover: Chadie R. Smith by Lara Chan

MATURE

JUsr

!FLAVoUR AND ANYoNE cAN TELL

hrobablythebes.

October 1996 TAE

GoRRESPOII|IIENT

Canoil

WORLD NO

Recipe for sunrival GEÐ

erzer, anyone

currently looking for a public relations firm, which will market the

guide , please feel free to contact me . The last major issue was one on

FCC. I know it is a big change from the eady 80s when there was a waiting list

which several board members

to join, but we are not isolated from the changes that are taking place in

the question of statements to the press.

5./

he marathon board meeting I mentioned in an eadier column, finally took place on September 28. V/hile we tried to stick to a strict agenda, the discussion was fairly wide

ranging and lively. This board recognises that they have some important tasks to be accomplished by nextJune.

Membership drive The majortopic of discussion concerned membership. Many of you may not be a'ware tl¡a,t the FCC has an active membership that hovers around 1,400 from month to month. The Club really needs to have a dues-paying membership of 1,600-1,700 to be solvent going in to next year. .We expect to lose as many as 200

members due to people leaving the territory by June, 1997. That means tþatwe mayhaye amembership deficit members by

subscription to a shortfall of HK$375,000 per monrh. So, what has the board resolved to do about this problem? We decided

There is something you can do to help. The next time you bring a guest

As the changeover approaches

Survival guide Howthe Club is going to respond to the expected influx of visiting cortespondents for the hand-over probably occupied more of our attention than any other subject. 'We are aheady in discussionwith the Freedom Forum Asia Center to iointly sponsor some events. No doubt there will be a procession of prominent speakers for pro-

fessional lunches. But these are the things we always do.

There are three principles on whicheveryone agreed. First, we have to be collegial and freely offer assistance to orrr guests. Second, the Club's stature and reputation have to have been enhancedwhenthe storyis over. Third, this is the best opportunity the Club is ever going to haye to make money.

Therefore, the board has decided

that the Club will publish a Correspondents' Survival Guide, which will be given to every correspondent who applies for temporary membership. The guide will include contact numbers for sources of information, restaurants, hotels, airlines and consulates. It will contain information that

most of ns take for granted, such as whytaxis sometimes don't stop when hailed and what time the Noon Day gun is fired. I have akeady had some conversations with potential sponsors,

who are anxious to participate. How-

important moments. Only total dedication and determination give the

regarding press freedom in Hong Kong. it is anticipated that I will receive more of these calls andbe askedto give on-the-

edge to break the

limit,

and to stay at the peak. Prof essional photographers capture these split seconds and share the dedication and determination - the spirit of champion.

record interwiews. I needed to have a full understanding of what was the will of the board. The policy will continue as it has. Whenever I am asked to make a statement to the press, I will try to get the views of as many board members as

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time allows. However, when that is not possible, the board expressed the view that I will protect the interests of the Club, without abandoning the principles of press freedom. I thank them for their confidence.

tomorrow's needs. Ultirnate performance in split seconds turns into moments of world records. Canon EOS camera system gives the spirit of champion to the world of photographers.

This month's magazine honors the passing of Chadie Smith, who was a legend in Asian journalism. He was a founding member of the FCC and a familiar face in the Club, even to those who didn't know him. Our sincerest condolences go to his widow Kim, to

whom he was married for 38 years. The board has decided that Kim should be made anhonorarylife member.'SØe

hope she wi-ll continue to come to the Club and visit old friends. A few days after Chadie's funeral, a wake was held at the FCC Main Bar. But as Chadie would haye wanted, it turned into a party. Pacita Roads, wife

of former president David

Roads, joined Kimin singing some of Chadie's

old favorites, while his friend Larry Allen played for him for the last time. A small brass plaque inscribed

ln the major events of athletics, many professional photographers stake their reputations on the quality of the images they produce with Canon White EF Lenses.

C}IARLIE SMITH, OO9, 193O-1996, hAS

been inlaid in the bar where Chadie used to sit, so his friends can always toast an absent friend.

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THE CORRf,SPoilDDNT October 1996

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To be the champion is to be at the peak in the very

ex-

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Hong Kong.

spective members can get signed up, even af[er office hours.

IN SPI|I

who has any ideas for the

From time to time, members of the local press call me for statements

to the Club, ask them if they would like to join. The bar staff now has application forms on hand, so pro-

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From MrJonathan Fenby The gulf between rumour and reality when it comes to the Soutlt Cbinø Morning Posl is one of the facts of life. Before eyerybody starts expecting me to break out the Dom Perignon atthebar, may I just add a footnote to the piece on me in your last (August) issue.

say that I

know of well over a dozen

editors in London on higher pay, and

that's before we look at America or

'Would begin to count star columnists. that you were right, but Hong Kong is not always in the supedative league. (Wítb øþologies to Mr Fenby. Tltis

lelter utas receiued too latefor inclusion in tbe September issue. JH)

"Jonathan Fenby holds down one

of the highest paid journalist's jobs anywhere in the world", I read with mounting pain in the pit of my wallet. I'm not complaining, but I can only

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irreplaceables'. The photographwas

men.

Kr ;"åluH;Ë'f*n"o

October 1996 TÅE

GORf,XSPOilIIEIllT

Charlie Smith Just a simpL farcnboy from

AJlabannra'

Ctrarles R-- Srnith, FCC rnerrrl>erstrip NTo- OO9, anr.<l a- rrrerrrl>er of ttre Clul> sirrce 1964, sadly collapsed anrd died o1a Saturduy, Septernber 14- He lrzas 66 years old. lftre follolrring pages contain tributes to Ckradie frorn kris rfralry friends and colleagLresThe following v/as tead at

Now, imagine this, a wide-eyed

Rodgers performed for the USA birth-

Chadie's funeral by his niece Joy Karanick: Charlie hated funerals and if he had his way, he wouldn't be at this one. However, Chadiewouldbeso flattered to see so

country girl from Alabama on her way

day party. He introduced me to so many peo-

many of you here.

On behalf of Kim and the family we are very touched to have you celebrate his wonderful life with us.

to experience Chadie's Hong Kong. He must have forgotten about going barefoot, eating mayonnaise sandwiches, grits, and putting ketchup on eggs. Anyway, Chadie told me to pack tight. I did. One outfit and one pair of shoes. Kim and Chadie rightaway got me to the tailor. You see, I, like Chadie

and many of the Smiths, can't wear petite sizes. Theymade me all kinds of fancy dresses for cocktail parties at the Embassy, Frank andMary B eatty's home

and the Sheraton Hotel, where Jimmy

ple, one of which was Dick Hughes, who gave me his autographed book and is remembered for his toast, 'To Absent Friends'. However, my fìrst real initiation to

Hong Kong was a sort of stroll down tùØ.anchaiwith Chadie. I don't thinkwe missed a stop. \ù7hen we got home at almost daybreak, Chadie with his great sense of humour said Joy, let's pretend we're drunk and go in singing crazy'.I said 'pretend ?'

Three months went

Chadie's impact on

by fast, with numerous

mylife:

memories, and was actu-

T nr¿ never met him I b.ro.., but I knew to respect him. As a Yery young gid, I remember hearing that my uncle in Hong Kong worked for United Press International, took President Nixon into China, lived in a mansion

ally the turning point in mylife. andwas stationed at Subic Bay. Of course, I visited Charlie many times in Manila and Hong Kong. !(/e grew closer. One day he called me, asked me to

check out the Makati Medical Centre, where he was going to have open-

attention.

heart surgery. Icheckedit

ahzedthat Chadie did live in a mansion, Kam Yuen Mansion on Old PeakRoad,

out OK - nothing less than perfect was good enough for my uncle! I was so honoured to

forhim. I marched down the hall of Makati

and Charlie's cat ran and hid the moment it heard

do this

Chadie coming.

Centre, seeking out the srügeon. I believe I found

ItwastheBicentennial Y ear 197 6, Iw as 16, a typical deviant teenager, wanting to leave home, getmar-

the assistant, but it was probably the first time a cardiothoracic surgeon

ried, among other things.

had been interviewed ... 'Where did you get your

Chadie immediately had

me on a plane to Hong Kong. rf,E

COnRf,SPolfI¡DNT October 1996

As a tribute to this dear

Who reallywas Chades Ríchard Srnith ? \V'e

and

wonderful man, let us take from here tonight, Charlie's ability to love, a¡rd incorporate it into our life.

all have recollections of

Charlie and how he touched our

time'. 'When I came back there had been complications and Chadie had just come out of ER surgery. Afterthat I never left his side, no matter how nice he wanted to be to people. This was so typical of Charlie, to think of others, rather than himself. Furthermore, I questioned the doc-

tor's orders and one doctorresponded something about broad approaches. I commanded, 'You don't understand, Doctor, this is myuncle, Chadie Smith, you order it!' From that point on the doctors collaborated with me regarding his care and Chadie's confidence in me expanded.

if open-heart

Before the surgery I asked him he had all his paperwork together

after all, he was having

to LovE

4lø, '(t;-\cF- c2<

surgery. He said Joy, take care ofthings

if an¡hing happens'. Almost ten ye ars later, I am here to represent the family and honour him in awayl believe he would be proud of.

Scripture: 1st Corinthians. 13 : "Andnowabidethfaith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

fT\

IaterI joinedtheNavy

and could make his Siamese cat stand at I later grew up and re-

many surgeries have you done?' AÍter the tour I i¡formed Chadie we were ready to proceed. I took leave to be with him. He was doing quite well and I had developed a friendship with the nurses. Chadie, in his good natured way said, 'I'm fine, take them out, have a good

training ? What credentials do you have? How

From Tony Cliftorr, Newsuteek Monday, September 16: Chadie and I should just about be thinking of ordering lunch now, although I already know what he'll be having. \ùØe'll have had a few drinks at the FCC, stating at middaywith his vodka and cranberry juice, and at Jimmy's we will have had the odd martini. Andnow, round abouj2.3O, he'llbe ordering his usual mass of sausages and mashed potatoes, while I try something lighter, like a slimming Chicken Kiev. With the odd bottle of red. Oh, and an extra martini on the side.

It is entirely

appropriate that

Chadie wentthewayhe did, because it was the way he always went. He'd be at the bar, as he was at lunchtime on Saturday, and he'd have a barely

touchedyodka and cranberry juice in

front of him, and he'd get up without saying a word, and he'd head out and sometowards the front door

times he'd make a phone call or go to the can and come back - and more often than not, he wouldn't, he'd just keep on going. On that Saturday, he

just kept on going.

It's a teffible cliché to

say,

many of us have akeady, because we hacks know our clichés, that 'Chadie went the way he would have wanted'. But like a lot of clichés, it happens to be true. I watchedmyfather die slowly in alapanese hospital lastyear, day after day in coma, being burned up

moving through the crowd (as opposed to his usual holding court at the bar), joking that I should set the whole of Monday afternoon aside for lunch, and agreeing we should rope in Ronnie and any other poor fool who blundered in to our web.

ing later to Chadie, 'I'd neyer want that to happen to me'. And he, an old Toþo hand like my father, agreed. And it didn't happen to Charlie. So my last memory of Chades R. Smith is from the night before, the night of my farewell parq. at the FCC.

And Chadie would have been there on Monday and it would all have happened as planned. But Chadie would have put in a full day's work before he ordered that first drink. To those that didn't know him, he was that solid, whispering southern gent in the white barong, in that seat at the bar behind the middle window looking on to Ice House Stre€t. The man who seemed to have all day to play. Chades R. Smith will be sorely missed by those that knew him, his numerous friends, his colleagues, the staff of the FCC and many others

He was in an especially good mood,

whose lives he touched.

by the pure ^oxygen they were using to keep him breathing, leaking from half a dozen tubes, cleady nerrer going to wake up, and I remember say-

October 1996 IHE CORRDSP0ilDHIÎ

QUEMOY PRESS C RE S/11,t

tlf tiBt

He shuttled between Hong Kong and Saigon and Manila and otherAsian

him down narrow unlit alleys behind

capitals. His byJine was ubiquitous. And then, after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Cultural Revolution, Chadie left wire seryices. He had for years been working part time on his own affairs, trying to explain to people who cared the intricacies of the

out ofbroken pipes and rats dived for cover. Finally, we reached awider part of the lane with a couple of stools on

the Tsimshatsui skyscrapers

'W'ater

ran

the dity concrete under dim light bulbs.'NoNames,' heannounced.'Best

during the occupation, and was strate-

food in Hong Kong.'

gically on hand to be sent across the watef to Korea. He spent five years in uniform, wentto college, joinedUPI andin 1958 came to Asia. He never went back, except for family occasions and once, for a huge laugh and as something he

continent he called home. He founded The Asia Letter Group,

which spawned newsletters concentrating on business, economic and political affairs in Asia, China, the Philippines and Indonesia. These were designed by Chadie to get behind the headlines, to tell people not onlywhat was happening and what could happen, bywhy. It was short snappynews,

tl.nd tfio

b¡g n6d

!un¡ oot tont¡r¡L l¡g lha Qu.nûJ hl¡ilds for

th.

l2th

Gorsccutlva

dry..J'

the sort of hard copy that news services may carqz but that home town USA

newspapers would not print. It was designed, very cleverþ, for a speci-fic niche market that didn't mind paying. He also, to the constant hilarity of his friends, put out another profitable newsletter, Executiue Fítness. Before his massive quadruple by-pass operation afewyears ago, hewas overweight and unfit. He was the publisher of a

ti,ffi,,H*i¿*;äs

flaited Presr ntercational f

health paper? 'I'm not goddamn Amold

Cba.rlie R.

uíth

Schwarzeneger,' he protested one day over lunch at the old Hilton Grill. 'I just publish the thing.' He did itwell. colleagues on Quemoy

Chadie got into journalism more

From I(evin Sinclair Nobody ever mistook Chadie Smith for a fashion model. But in

also founded Hong Kong Newswire, the internal news seryice that pumps out press releases and other commer-

some ways, he was ahead of his time; his taste for garish neckties was leg-

cial news.

endary. Once, on an assignment in Japan 2O years ago, I spotted a par-

ticulady dreadful tie. It had burnt orange orchids and screaming pink tigers and blue salmon leaping upriver. It was hideous. 'Gee, thanks,' Chadie said when I gave it to him in the FCC bar. Just what I need.' He wore it frequently. Not that he dressed up all that often. Usually he would be tn abaggy shirt. His clothes and his casual man-

ner were deceptive. Beneath that vastly amiable exterior there was a shrewd, quick mind. Chadie went

from being a superb newsman to astute entfepfeneuf with his own smooth-running publishing business based on highly selective - and highty profitable newsletters. He

THE CORRESP0NDDNT Octobe¡ 1996

Probably few people who saw Chadie in his favoured spot under the

window flanking the bar fully realised his business links. He was an eady riser

- wire serwice training,

perhaps

and was usually at work before dawn.

This meant he could in good conscience, work completed and the operation running smoothly, go to lunch with his best pal, Ronnie Ling, and othef cronies. Lunch with Chadie was usually long, frequently hilarious and invariably enjoyable. 'Hearts full of faith, hearts full of truth, three parts gin and one part vermouth.' Every barman betweenJimmy's Kitchen andToþo, his old stamping ground and a city where he had many friends, had heard him order the first drink of the day. It was easy, if you didn't know him well, to

get the wrong impression of Chades R.

Smith.

During the Cultural Revolution, when he was UPI China watcher and I was news editor of th.e Hongkong Standard, we would meet frequently late at night in the old Ocean Bar in 'tù(/anchai. We would compare notes. His sources were impeccable. Chadie

wasn't one of the great intellectual analytical China watchers, steeped in the language and the learning of the nation and its political leaders and history. But he was one helluva newsman

with superb connections. He didn't readfea leaves and look for obscure trends or attempt to interpret personal relations in the maddening turmoil of China's purged leadership. No, he did what a hard newsman did; he sought out the people that

knew, got the information they had, and reported the facts.

That tended to keep UPI well abreast ofthe chaos.

.... he had many. Golf was an occasional passion, although I think Chadie went along more to be sociable - and he could be sociable to a frightening extent when he had you in tow and felt thirsty than to hit

up in the deepest of the deep South in grim times. Segregation was rigid in

in big northern

cities where he worked, there was racial tension. 'I didn't want to put up with that shit,' he once told me. He used to hang out at some strange places. 'ùfhen his old friend LarryAllenwas running apiano bar in the heart of Tsimshatsui (it must have been rnid-'7Os) Chadie and a bunch of us went over to pay him a late night visit. On the way, we decided to eat.

'Follow me,' Chadie commanded. There was myself, Bert Okuley and a couple of others. 'We blundered after

guitar player would greet him with a hug. Some of America's top diplomats and government officials were not only close friends, but people who held enofmous respect for his views. One of his closest pals for many years was the late Eddie Tseng En-po, stalwart of the Guornindong, former FCCpresident andthemanwho ofßcially broke the story that'Wodd W.ar II had ended. Another of his best friends was WuTai-chow, an ardentBeijingfollower andamaninterned without trial by the

person thought. A friend was a friend

spendmost of his live inAsia? He grew

Alabama and even

really enjoyed, for his 40th anniversary high school reunion. He met his wife, Kirn, when he was based in Seoul. He was gregarious, sometimes to a fault. His field of friends was vast, and they seemed to be everywhere. He would drag you to some dim backstreet in Manila where a toothless old

Hongkong Government in the 1960s for being a communist agitator. To Chadie, it didn't matter what a

orless byaccident. When he gothome to Logtown, on the fringe of Birmingham, Alabama, in 1953 after being discharged from the army, he didn't know what to do. So he used military scholarship schemes for ex-servicemen and studied joumalism at the University of Missouri. Itwas to prove awise choice.

Vhy did he leave America,

'ùØhen he graduated in 1 948 he was semþro, touring small towns in the South and earning US$150 a week, huge money for a l7-yearold in those days. But the army called and he was swiftly enlisted, dispatched to Japan

a ball. He was

pretty good, too, recalls

Ross'W'ay, another keen FCC golfer.

Not bad, either, we agreed as we tucked into noodles at the restaurant with no name and drank Qingdao from trottles.

Chadie was a surprising guy, in many ways. His liking for poetry of the more robust kind was a pretty well-kept secret, although inspired by a few vodka and grapefruit juices afterlunch, he could quote Kipling at great length and astonishing accu-

It was on the golf course a couple of days before he died that intimations came that he wasn't feeling too well. It was hot, and he stopped for a rest after three holes. He had pains in his chest, he complained. Next day, when he and Ronnie Ling sat at the bar, Chadie was coasting along on a small beer, rather than exuberantþ sinking a vodka.

in Logtown; instead he learned how

'Help me, boys,' Chadie used to urge his companions as he ordered another round of drinks. I just wish we

to play baseball.

could, Chadie, old chum.

racy. He didn'tleamthat athigh school

October 1996 TÃ0,

CoRRESPONIIENT

From Pat l(illen, Editor, No. l Sbimbun, Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. uPI1956-87

From Frank Beatty, Satellite Beach, Florida rü(/hile the avera,ge Hong Kong

taxi

driver

- and most waiters - considered Chailie nothing less than a terrorist, therewasthe otherside to myfriend which he would vehemently deny were he with us today. A soft side. A couple of examples of the Chadie (don't call me Chuck!) I'll remember. During the closing days of the Vietnam conflict, Charlie was one of a number of Unipressers despatched to Saigon for the final countdown. A story getting major play at the time was the plight of Vietnamese orphans, the orphan lift, the 'plane crash, etc. Of all the people to assign an orphan story to, it had to be crusty old Chadie . Having spent the aftemoon at the orphanage, Charlie came back to the bureau and knocked out a piece that would bring tears to the eyes of the toughest. On a related matter, there was th€

time in Korea where he received

and UPI, I would like to extend our sympathies to Kim and the rest of Chadie's family. In his years with UPI, Charlie was a person who could make an impact on editors, other reporters, even a nation.

When he was the correspondent in Indonesia in the 1950s, Charlie troubled the lakarta government and the U.S. embassy with his tough-minded reporting. The embassy also felt it was bad form for an American to employ an

Indonesian boy to follow him around

with a fly whisk. When an embassy offìcial complained, CharÏe replied, 'In the fust place , it's none of your damn business. Cb¿trlie

provide youwithphotographs and a history of the child you've

tion

R in Vìetnam

From Mike Keats, Rome I first met Chadie Smith in 1978 when I was posted to Hong Kong as UPI's editorforthe Asia-Pacific region. Of course the by{ine 'Chades R. Smith'

had graced the UPI news wires for

adopted. The request to Charlie was to visit

years previously and Chadie was the doyen of the US 'China 'Watchers',

the orphanage and see the child in

based in Hong Kong before normalisa-

person. Chadie quickly discovered that no such child existed, but to the day he died he neverrevealed this to the family member. He would not disappoint her. Tough guy, that Smith.

tion of Washington-Beijing relations, when American journalists were barred from the mainland,

From Teresa Monks, Sydney It is with disbelief I received the news of the tragic loss of our beloved Chadie Smith. I feel acutely the loss that has afflicted the FCC and the shock

you must be feeling at the untimely a

In the second, he likes his job, and

Helping cctfiy uounded S.Vietna.tnese sokJiers

third, he probably makes more money than most other Indonesians.'

special request from a family member. It seems the relative had been sponsoring an orphan through one of the many charities which for a monthly dona-

loss of a champion among men:

On behalf of Chadie Smith's many friends from his days withUnited Press

RE$$

cham-

pion in kindness, generosity and love. How lucky we are to have known Charlie - how much he will be missed. May he rest in peace, amidst the 'absent friends' he so faithfully toasted.

From Tony and Anne Paul, Bangkok Old soldiers never died, and memories of this strange , loveable, good old

boy won't quickly fade away.

Chadie,

with an unsurpassed -

even by anyone today - web of contacts aroundAsia, was known throughout for a series of notable beats, in-

cluding being first with the news of the death of Mao. After checking in at the old Hilton, and visiting the UPI office which was to become my'home' ïor 12yearc, a message awaited from the late, lamented Bert Okuley that he' and Smith' were waiting for me at the FCC as it was 'now 6 p.m.'. Back to Suthedand House ancl I shared the first of about

5,000 whiskies (he a Chivas, me

simple Bell's) over the years and to get my first taste of the C.R. Smith style of

'Catpadia...' From the FCC it was oYer to the American Club, then to'W'anchai for my first introduction to the likes of Sweetwater at Pussycat and umpteen

THE G0RAXSPONIIENI October 1996

other establishments, whose names are fortunately now a blur, before ending at the Sing-along Club. I think I got

back to the Hilton around 4.3O a.m. Asian news editors were expected to be ondeck atO73O andlmanagedto totter in at 7.2O, five minutes before

'dbeen Charlie - looking as thonghhe resting for a week strode in to start work.

Seeing me peering through the morning papers, he commented only 'You'll do'. High praise indeed! My favourite story of Chadie was the time the UPI radio network contactecl CRS in Saigon for a situation report on whatever had happened that clay.

'Give us a voice level,' snapped the guy in New York. Chadie, as is well known, had a somewhat unusually high-pitched Alabama accent and he obliged with the ritualistic 'The situation is, to say the

least, confused ... one, two, three, etc., etc.'

'Hold it, Chadie, there's a lot of interference ... try agaiî,' said New York.

'It's no good, there's something

One other story. \trflhen Chadie

From Bob Iilaverkamp, Sylvan Lake, Minnesota

came from Hong Kong to Tokyo in 1964 to help cover the Olympics, he arrived with five bottles of scotch, be-

Chades R. Smith was a man for all seasons.

lieving that he would be allowed to

The present tense would be more appropriate. For those who had the good fortune of knowing him well, he will live in our thoughts as long as we continue to breathe the foul air of a bar' or press club in Asia, or the fresh air of a golf course. Chadie was at home whereyer he presided with friencls and colleagues.

Chadie was a legend in his own correspondent for UP and UPI in Seoul, Tokyo ,Jakata,Yietnam, Hong Kong and as UPI's first chief corresponclent for China. He continued as a journalist and owner of the Asia Letter publications, which included newsletters on lapan, the Phitippines, Asia, China, Indonesia, ASEAN and Health and Agri-business newsletters. time

as a

Chadie was a legend wherever friends got together. He very seldom minced words or pulled punches. If he tired of the companypresent, he disappeared into the night. This was another of his trademarks.

making your voice sormd all squeaþ,' complained the NY guy.

His generosity knew no bonnds. He secretly helped finance many olcl

'God-dammit, this is my voice!' shouted Chadie.

friends down on their luck or in need. Chadie probably bought more rounds

of good cheer than anyone in Asia. He enjoyed heiping friends. A lunch with Chadie usually meant one or two hours of cocktails - and sometimes more before a menu could be looked at. There was many a lunch

when food never soiled the table. It 5 or 6 p.m. and appetites had disappeared with the switch from gin to cognac. It would be impossible to start naming all his friends, the late Richard Hughes, doyen of the Hong Kong press corps, the late Amold Dibble, UPI's chief correspondent, Tony Paul, Ross Way, Ronnie Ling, Sing Sheng, John McDougall,John knaghan, allthe members of the Gee Bung Polo Club and the golf groups to which he belonged. We will toast him wherever we go, andwe will always rememberhis southern Alabama accent. He was/is a man for all seasons. He will always remain a living legend.

would be

bring duty free a gallon of spirits in to Japan. No, the customs people told Chadie at the airport. You can bring in one bottle and le ave the others in bond at the airport. Chadie thought that over, decided he would ner¡er see the four extra bottles again, and calmly broke them one after another in front of the startled customs offtcers. Some entrance.

But such stories shot¡ld not obscnre the fact that Charlie was a fine correspondent, whether landing with the Marines inVietnam, dodging shells in Quemoy, or closely reporting on events in China when w'estem coffespondents were excluded. Certainly, Hong Kong will be a di-fferent place without him. From Bill and Tonette Stubbs, Jacksonville, Florida Our deepest sympathy. He was brother, friend and mentor.

From Mitch Davidson A big man with a wafin presence. the quiet American. I Charlie Smith

shall miss him deady. October 1996

TAD, CORRDSPOM¡DNT

believe that we were stepping uninvited and unneeded on to his turf, and diminishing his stature. 'Whenwe movecl our offrces from Asia House to New Mercury House, the division vice-president occupied a

panelled, spacious office with an

mier journalism schools at the University of Missouri. He joined United Press in 1956 and worked in bureaux inAtlanta, Tampa, Birmingham and the United Nations before his assignment to Tokyo that launched a career in Asia spanning five decades. Eady on, Charlie demonstrated his sometimes cantankerous ways: he suggested UP give him a typewriter to use

Witb Cbou En Lai

at home if the company expected him to wofk oveftime. But long hours were Chadie's way of life. Once when we worked together in Hong Kong, Chadie invited my wife and I to join him for a typical Chadie Srnith weeknight evening. After imbibing at two or three bars, Diana and I

off and returned home, exhausted. But that was an ordinary night begged

for Chailie.

Witlc

Nixon

Witlr Pat Níxon

From Al Ituff, Connecticut Somehow, it sounded typical Chadie Smith. Back in the dark days when China's doors were closed, Chadie was UPI's No. 1 China watcher. During a dinnerforforeign reporters in Hong Kong, aXinhua man asked each guest if he had ever been in China. 'Yes,' CharÏe replied. 'But, Mr Smith,' Xinhua responded, 'we don't remember your yisiting China.' Chadie insisted:'I've been in China many times.' Pressed further, Chadie growled: 'I've made lots of trips to Taiwan.' A few hours after Chadie died, I telephoned Ernie Hoberecht, his old boss in UPI's Asia division.

'He was too young to die,'

Hoberecht saidfrom his Watonga, Oklahoma home. 'God bless Chadie.' From his home in 'Washington, D.C., long-time UPI colleague Leon Dan-

iel summed up Chadie Smith in four true words: 'He was an institution.' THD CoRRf,SPOI\IIIENT

October 1996

Leon spoke of Chadie's generosity.

'When I was working in Hong Kong, Chadie would invite Frank Beatty and me to play golf nearþ every Saturday,' said Daniel, 'The green fees were high, but Chadie always paid the bi[.'

unknown to

many members, I

learned while serving on the board of gorrernors that Chadie quietly and

anonymously gave financial help to friends down on their luck. It was hard to imagine Chadie as afather. But when tragedy separated

his young niece and nephew from their parents, Chadie and Kim took the children in to their Hong Kong home and helped them readjust their lives with compassion, Llnderstanding and love. Born in Birmingham, Ì'7abama, Chades Richard Srnith made Asia his life. He served inthe U.S. armyinJapan and Korea during the Korean war, and then studied in one of America's pre-

After Toþo, UPI assigned Chadie to its Seoul andlakaftabureaux before sending him to Hong Kong as bureau manager, chief China correspondent and senior editorforAsia. Chadie cultivated educated sources outside and inside China, includingJulian Schuman,

executiye desk, sofa, overstuffed chairs, coffee table, a couple of side tables, a big book case, a liquor cabinet and a thick carpet. From his more modest digs across the hall, AP's Woody Edwards once walked in to ourvice president's office with a ruler and, while Bob Page looked on in stunned silence, measured the depth of the carpet pile to report back

to NewYork.

'VØe11,

And what about Chadie? we pushed him into a cubby-hole office, barely big enough to hold his bulging files and books on China, including years of bound volumes of the Far Eastern Econotnìc Reuieu, each yolume festooned with slips of paper marking articles significant to Chadie's research. But allthe while, Chadie was developing and expanding his private business of publishing and selling Asia news letters. UPI knew that Chadie was running a sideline business, a possible conflict of interest, bLrt we did not want to lose his China expertise. I was flabbergasted the first time Chadie invited me to his newsletter company, then located in the Sincere Insurance Building in Wanchai. Not

an American joumalist who lived in Beijing for manyyears under Mao and who, working under Chaflie's direction, became a UPI stringer during and

days after the United States recognised

fellow drunks to

the People's Republic of China, Chadie handed me a shocking letter. Afteryears of China reporting, Chadie announced his resignation from UPL My efforts to dissuade him failed. Chadie never ex-

plained why he was leaving us. Not surprising: he rarelywent out of llis way to justily what he knew was right for him. But I always suspected that Chadie wanted to avoid a possible transfer to the bureau we would open in Beijing. He had made his mark on Hong Kong, establishing in his Asia letters an

Charlie's friends and colleagues and see him off. I know you guys will do it right. The years I've known and drunk with Charlie are definitive inmylife. I knew him back when he was still schlepping around a ponable typewriter and notepad for United Press (prior to the addition of the 'I') and in subsequent years when we all,

not only got older, but indeed, got bett€r. It's impossible to imagine a better companion, golf partner, yahtze competitor or all-round good skate.

impoftant solrce of information for

It's tough to realize that my next

business and govemment execLrtives in many countries. Chadie Smith had developed a service that in many respects was more imaginative andmore

trip to Hong Kong won't include one

of those six-hour 'lunches' with

dis-

Charlie and Bob Klaverkamp. Chades nowpulls up a bar stool in that big press club inthe sþ, with suchgreat

patches of awire service. And certainly

fellows as Dick Hughes, Arnold

more profitable for the writer.

Dibble, Bill Savestrom, Bert Okuley and other such kindred spirits. After nearþ 44years in the Orient, I count myself lucþ to have known such giants. It's sad to realize we'll be including Charlie now when we toast 'absent friends'.

informative than the hard news

Chadie remained in Hong Kong until his death. Earlier this year, Arnold Zeitltn, who worked in Asia for AP and later for UPI, revisited Hong Kong. He asked Chadie what he planned to do when the teffitory reverts to China's nrle onJuly 1, 1997. Clrar1te replied: 'Kim and I will continue to live in Hong Kong; it's our home.' Kim, we love you, and we will never forget our friend, Chadie Smith.

From Keith Statham I don't want to be part of what seems like a wave of sentimentality that has swept the FCC since the sad

demise of Chadie Smith, nor do I think he would have liked it. But as an example of his wry sense of humour, and how I will remember him as a hopeless

joke-teller, was his dic-

the only language skill5 ye¡¡ needed were to be able to say in any language 'Myfriend will pay'. God knows, -Chadie bought his share!

my wife and our two boys arrived at Kai Tak in those pre-tunnel days, we thought we faced a rafhler arduous trþ from Kowloon to Hong Kong island by vehicular ferywith our

FromJohn McDougall Chailie will never be forgotten bythe McDougallfamilies. His friend-

ship over the years will remain

cherished memory in our hearts.

luggage. But that was not to be. Chadie had reserved a helicopter; a first for the Kaffs. I don't remember Chadie saying

Probably my fondest thoughts are being on the golf course with

anything to me about the invasion by news bureau. But to me, he seemed to

From CorþAlexander, Editor, Tokyo Weekendcr I wish I could be there with all

tum that, no matter how long you had spent in any part of the wodd,

after the 1971 ping-pong diplomacy. Life changed for Chadie when, in 1972, UPI moved its Asia division headquarters from Toþo to Hong Kong. But not before another demonstration of his generosity and thoughtfulness. 'When

UPI's divisional bureaucrats into his

only did his firm occupy more space than UPI's Asia headquarters, he seemed to have more people working for him than we did. In Decembe\ 1978, a couple of

On tbe balcony of the okl FCC ín Sbangbai

Chadie and his many good pals. As we Aussies say, 'A good mate will never be forgotten'.

October 1996 TÃE

CORRESPOI{IIEIIT

Freedom of speech

Rights of passage

Professor Zeesr Seg'al, Prof-essor of La-wz at lfel Arzirz Llniversify, jor-rrnalist -¿ncl a-r-rthor <>f ltreeclc,ttrz c>f t/2e Press EietzDeerz nljvtlc ¿ttzcl l?eaùitjt, addressecl an FCC h-rnctreonItrhe folloqzing e><<rerpts of his speech fc¡cus o1a l2ress freedorn and clel>ates sLrrfourading relatecl cor-rrt cases-

N4ichael DeGolyer airs his rzievr¡s c>n the trarasitiol-Ì to Chinese sorzereigr-r.t¡r Q in." l99J ñlichael DeGolyer, \-l clirectt¡r of the Hong Kong Transition Project at Baptist University, ancl his team have been taking the pulse of Hong Kong peoples' hopes and fears concerning the transition to Clrinese sovereignty in 1997 . The FCC Iuncheon on Sept. 20 was the occasion for making public the latest and probabll. most comprehensive pulse-

taking )-et. The sPeech drew

considetable interest, not only from members but from the local press. He presented a lot of numbers to thjnk about, numbers that are not likely to make for very goocl reacling for our friends at the New ChinaNewsAgency (NCNA). Asked:'Are you satisfied with

the performance of the People's Republic of China in clealing with Hong Kong affails?' more than half, 58 per cent, say they are clissatisfied. ConYersell', the Hong Kong government has been enjoying a rather steadily increasing vote of confidence ftom Hong

Kong people, with two-thirds saf ing that they are generally satisfied with the performance of the government. DeGolyer cautionecl that much of

his polling data predated the olive branch that Chinese Foreign Mtuister Qian Qichen extenclecl to the Democratic Party in Augnst, inviting them to paticipate in selection of the first chief execntive of the Special Administratiye Region (SAR), which signalled a shift in China's approach from confrontation more towarcl conciliation. The polling certainly laid to rest the notion that Hong Kong's people are politically apathetic and onlyinterestecl

in making money. "I would

have thought that the recent response to the dispute over the Diaol'u islands would have disabused people of that notion," he remarked dryly.

Literally millions of people have participated in politics, broadly defined, eith€r byvoting, taking partin clemonstrations, signing a petition or simply

"The Hong people are

KarrinJones reports

involved politically, or more so, than Americans, " said DeGolyer.

And well-informed too, although a lot of people tell DeGoþr's pollsters that they don't thhk they are getting accurate, objective information from Hong Kong's mrütifarious meclia. Among the outlets with the greatest credibilty is the government-owned RTHK. "The harcl-won creclibility of the govemment broadcaster shollld be valued by the incomsaicl DeGoll.er. It was an indirect stab at reqLlests b), the

ing administration,"

Preparatory Committee for access to the airwaves that have raised some concerns over the station's continued indepenclence.

Of course. the real test of conficlence is whether Hong Kong people

more of an influx of people coming into Hong Kong rather than leaving, but this is a cause for a cliff'erent concern, the speaker notecl. Reason: they wo11y that they have to reside here before the handover date in order to maintain their right-of-abode in Hong Kong. "Those who have livecl in Hong Kong for man)- years ancl seen bank panics, which periodically occlrr, are

well aware of how quickly rllmollrs can trigger mass irrationality here. A lot of people leaving at once could trigger

they leave. Ever since the filst sllrvey

strclr a panic."

in Febmary l9c)3, a

Still, there are some bright notes

consistent six per cent ofrespondents

about the incoming aclministration. The expectation of a China-stimulated boom

was conductecl

have indicated that they have travel insurance in the form of a fbreign passpoft. That seems small, but the nunber of people who could get out of Hong Kong increases dramatically, if one in-

cludes relatives who can provide sponsorships. His transition team estimates that between 20 and25 per cent of Hong Kong people have relatives close enough to provide them with a means of immecliate and legitimate departnre. Probably as many as 4O-5O per cent probably could arrange to leave if they felt things were not going right, he said. rü/hat could cause people to leave? DeGolyer said the most critical issue is a feelhg of loss of personal freedom. "People tencl to say that so long as the economy is doing fine, so long as people are making money, everything will be okay. It's not tftie."

\ùlhen questioned about their ex-

seeking help from a government agency, he said.

specially won'ied. Slightly fewet, Octobef 1996

per cent say they are not wortied about the loss of personal freecloms, although, significantly, this is clown from 50 per cent a yeaf ago. At the moment, there seems to be

decide to stay, orlike tens of thousancls of their compatriots over the years,

pectations regarding theil standard of Iwng, 44 per cent say they are not

THD CORRDSPONIIDNT

A L\

is growing a

but with it, the wony of

bust. The feeling that the goveil.ìment

will perform more poody than the present one is slowll'rececling - except in tl'rc area of cormption. As a concern, "it tops the list". But there is one area in which the SAR's reputation is already steding. People expect it to be a lot toLlgher on criminals. The bottom line is cautioLrs optimism about the future. \ùl4ren asked: 'Do you think t'here will tdy be Hong Kong people nrling Hong Kong after 1997?' , about 51 pe 1'cent respond only with 'a slight chance'. "It's uttedy clependent on what China cloes," he concluded. "The more theylive up to the promises in theJoint

I)eclaration and the Basic I¿w, the more likely there will be a successftll transition. The more the PRC is considered a power behind the th-r'one, the more

likely that people will exercise their options ancl leave."

nt discussion relating to freeclom

Israeli Snpreme Couft . It is mysubmission

of the press which means, first and

thatthe publisher of anewspaper - who might be the eclitor at the same time can tell a repofter what to write abont, but cannot tell him what to write.

foremost, the right of the people to receive unbiased information, cannot overlook at least three aclditional freedoms. The first is the freedom of the owner to Llse his property, which means deciding and dictating the news and views that are fit, in his or opinion, to be printed. The seconcl is the freedom of the editorto be immune fromundue influence and to consicler relevant considerations onty. On top of this freedom exists the

freedom

of every journalist to

apply

professional considerations only. There is no doubt that the publisher,

the owner, enjoys his freedom of expression. Yet the question remains is it an absolute right and does it not have limitations? These qr.restions were raised before an Israeli district labour coutt for the first time in 1983. A regional cour-t rejected the traditional approachwhich gives the ownef the fight to a day-to-day intervention in the editorial work. Thus, he who is able to fire the editor cannot direct him on a regular basis. In so mling, the distdctcolut acloptecl

the view aclvancecl by Dr Gibbons in a leading article entitlecl "Freedom of the Press, Ownership and Editorial Valttes"

wlichwas published in England in Public Law in 7992. The writer argltes that the special status of freedom of the press is based on its association with editorial autonomy "conceived of serving a public interest in commllnication". The regional labour colrrt's decision was not approved by the national labour court: "Owners of newspapers, " the cotut noted, "are entitled to guide their paper in the direction which they favour. The owner . .. is entitled to require a journalist employecl by him to wfite an article on a subject which he regards as important, and he may instrì.lct the jolrmalist as to the general line to be favoured". The national labollr court's decision is now under judicial review before the

The concentration of control in organs of the media might limit the marketplace of ideas and turn it into a market of one idea. Some remedy for a limited mediamarket, wlich exists in many countries, might be founclecl bygranting the right of

access to the media. The "fairness doctrine", which prevailed in the past in the United States, secures a free flow of an entire range of views in the context of

"lfhe coratention - -. is tklt¿t one s.ho controls this stage os/es a fiduciar-y obligatiorl to ttre public, as he o\ r'ras, in a certain selase, a public asset-" radio and television. It was adopted in Israel in 1982 n a case relating to the Broadcasting Àuthority. The Supreme Court decided - pteferring Amedcan concepts to British perspectives - that the Authoriry's decision not to inteffiew supporters of the Palestine Liberation Organisation was contrary to the idea of informed citizenty and to the "fairness cloctrine".

In a lecture marking the publication of Freedom of tbe Press - Behaeen Mytb ønd, Reality, the Supreme Court president, Aharon Barak, suggested that the privately owne d press be regarclecl as

public utility, as it carries the public's open discussion. Barak points to the concentration of control of the press in Israel. "The contention," he declares, suma

ming up his thesis, "is that one who controls this stage owes

gation to the public, as he owns, in a certain sense, a public asset." It might be said, in conclusion, that freedom of speech and of the press is deeply rooted in the Israeli legal system. The respect for freedom of speech and the right of people to know inflr.renced our Supreme Cout in deciding that the

Military Censor has no authority to exercise lris powerswithout the existence ofa "near certainty" ofa serious danger to

security.

The duty to protect freedom of speech is targeted not only at the execu-

tive branch but also towards the judiciary. The same duty of the coLuts was stressecl in relation to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, 1990. Thus it was decided @. v Chignal, 7990,6 C.R. N.Z. 476) that the basic right of freedom of speech relates also to a judicial clecision whether to allow publication of a certain coLtft's proceedings. Israeli jr.rdiciary shows its respect for the freeclom of speech by a Supreme Cout decision (datecl wa1'þack in 1978) which recognised jor.rrnalists' privilege

not to reveal their sources unless the public interest be servecl by disclosure was "compelling". The Court rendered its ruling in the absence of a statutory

"shield law". Legislation

to protect

solrrces was suggested in Israel by a recent commission's report and is still under debate. Such law, as exists in different countries like Austria, Denmark,

France ancl others, might serve as an example of the recognition needed in orcler to enable the media to perform its watch-dog role.

It was Ead 'Warren, the

famous

Australian Chief Justice, who said that human rights should be cherishecl claily. The task to secure the freedom of the press is one of international importance. The duty to preserve it, whìle not ignoring other slrbstantial social interests, is part and parcel of democratic life everywhere. Karrin.fones

øfreelance uriter and broad.caster

fiduciary obliOctober 1996 THE

GORRf,SPOlrlIlEllr

CambodiaÍrpaper

Electronic publishing: fÏction arrd fact

celebrates

fourth birthday

lfhis is ttre first in a-n occasional series of articles prorzided b>. the -Arneri<:an Sociefy of Jor-rrnalists and Auttrors, Inc-

I il

-\Ùúzords

frorrr Liz H<>d.gson in Ptrnorn Pentr he oldest continuouslypublished newspaper in

Cambodia reached a milestone recentlywhen it celebrated its fourth birthday. But editor and publisher, Michael Hayes, who started the Pbnorn PenLt Posf with no journalistic experience, did not throw a celebration Party. "We can't afford it, " saidAmerican Hayes, 45, a rcgular at the FCCC

(Foreign Correspondents' Club of Cambodia), "but we do break even." The fortnightlypaper, which has

a contract that demands for the

months.

publisher "the non-exclusive right to exercise, by itself or through third parties, the rights granted herein in any form in which the work may be published, reproduced, distributed, performed, displayed, or transmitted

"We don't'cherry-pick'.'We use the article only as part of the whole issue in which it appears. It's sirnple archiving." In a typical text-only database,

out permission, and

(including, but not limited to,

off we went.

electronic and optical versions and in

frequently the database is missing some editorial matter, such as letters to the

"I wrote to King Sihanouk to ask his permission and he

wrote back- in two weeks sayingyes, pro-

vided

I got permis-

sion from the regime

"I hired an American woman as manag-

ing editor, put

Angeles Times and Tíme magazine.

Hayes, whose only previous newspaper link was working as a

paper boy growing up in East Falmouth, Massachusetts, went to Cambodia looking for work after losing a job as ar aid worker in Bangkok. "I came to Asia as a back-packer in 197 4, and spent 15 years in foreign

aid," he said. "I arrived here in THE GORRXSPOIIIIIEI{T Octobe¡ 1996

database does not distribute

too. That took five

been signed.

US$10,000 down to Íeît a building, with-

From a precarious start it has gone from strength to strength, surviving death threats against Khmer reporters and efforts by the government to jail Hayes lastyear on criminal charges of disinformation, incitement and creating insecurity and instability. Now it is read by Cambodiawatchers around the region and the wodd, and has won praise from major newspapers and magazines, including tlre Asian Wall Street Journal, Far Ett.stern Econotníc Reuietu, Los

publications at all; it distributes individual articleb. Online seryices collect

850

subscribers in some 40 countries.

because

freelance articles can be superdense, high-legalese documents longer than the aflicles they commission. those Rights clauses - in particular, cause pertaining to electronic rights the most consternation. Often, they cause the most confusion, too. Editors mayfind themselves called upon to explain and justify to writers

20 pages, eight of them in colour, has

a print run of 5,000 and

hese days, contracts for

October, 1991, before the peace accords had

"My life savings

any other media now existing or

wereUS$50,000 andl put about $45,000 in

hereafter developed), in whole or in part, whether or not combined with

Phnom Penh Post editor and þublìsber, Michael Hayes,

to start the

paper. celebra.tes lrìs paþer3 fouîtlr birtbda.? ¿.t a part? lrosted by tbe Issue number one US Atnbassador to Pbnom Penb, to launcb Wente Wines of made money. Two, Caliþrnia in tlre country. three and four lost money and I was getting nervy. Then five went in to

the black and we've broken even ever since."

works of others, in perpetuity

The discussions frequently include certain basic information about electronic publishing in the wodd of periodicals. The problem is, much of that information is wrong. The following are the most oft-

repeated Cyberfables, each accompa-

bad news in Hayes' future. He is about

Kathleen Hayes, whom he describes as "my soon-to-be ex-wife".

reprint serwice.

there are no graphics and no ads, and

editor, short items, and articles by authors who have insisted that their work not be included. Hardly 'the whole issue'. "This is iust like rnicrofilm." Microfilm, which replaced bound volumes, was anewform of archiving. Each contains the whole issue as an issue; once it's sold no more money changes hands. But an electronic database, online or CD-ROM, is an

nied by what you shonld know to correct them.

archive of articles, not ofissues. Under

"Databases like Lexis-Nexis are

way articles, graphics and ads

just another way of distributing our publication. You wouldn't expect more money if we signed up 1000 more news stands, would you?" A database is not simply another means of distributing a publication,

strung together - but not the individual

to lose his managing director, "The paper survived, the marriage

for

throughout the universe ..."

The paper now has 2O staff, including two editors and five reporters, and Hayes is optimistic about the future. There is, however, one piece of

didn't," he shrugged.

a per-article fee from database users andpass apiece backto the publisher. It's as if a reader could go to a news stand, slice an article out of amagazine and pay for the clipping alone. It is, in effect, an electronic delivery system

FCC absent member

liz

Hodgon

uith

Cambo dian princess Sisolløtb Pongneary.

are

constituent parts (just as a writer's copyright in an article is for stringing the words together; the writer doesn't own the individual words).

In the case of online databases, the reader pays the online service per

hit, the database producer takes a cut, and the publisher gets a royalty. The only parry in the chain who doesn't

keep making money is the author unless the publisher's contract calls for sharing the revenue.

"But no publisher is making a dirne at this." 'Wrong! lØith databases, publishers profit from the first sale on, because there are no staft-up costs; they sign a deal and collect royalties. Some heavily researched publications, like tl;e Necu York Times, akeady make millions a year from électronic products. Others make peanuts. But whatever income they receive from these databases is pure profit. On the other hand, online editions, including separate sites on the Woddwide Web, may have high start-up costs and bring little initial income (although major advertisers are starting to sign up for some prominent sites). But while bottom line is what it's all about, no publisher expects profits from day one in a new print venture. And no real publisher would expect freebies for a print venture either. Electronic publishers pay everyone from their computer programmers to the ele ctric company. 'ùflhy should they get the content free? The Amerícan Socìety of Journalísts and is tlre nationail organization ofleading freelance writers E-mail 75 2 2 7. I 65 O@cornpuse tae. com Autlrors

@ October' 1996 THE

GORRESPONIIDNT

could even see senior'White House aides confiding secrets of state with D.C. bimbos! The Democrats are equallyaggres-

The elections

sive on the issues. 'We all know that President Clinton eliminated the major problems facing the nation when he took office neady lour years ago. The streets of America are safe for all with 100,000 new cops on the beat.

Party garrres xritkr Bill, Bob and R-oss byJon Rittger

The deficit is down by 60 per cent. Noreiga is in the slammer, so there's no more drug problem. 'W'e kicked Saddam's butt. and, we have a China policy that is clear and resolute. Given the present euphoric state of the nation, Clinton can focus on the real issues Americans should con-

sider in returning him to the White House. Specifically: Republicans are AGAINST WOMEN! On everything

from affirmative action, to abortion Anthem, and they present "THE \NNNING TEAM".

As with every American election

p o.ry four years - and whether .LJ we need one or not is debatable - Americans go to the polls to elect a president. The quadrennium is once againuponus, culrninating on "E-DAY"

the 5th of November. Now, here's how it works. The process is simple. The two

major political parties are the Republicans (a.k.a. : Ultra Right-Vling

Moral Majority Fascists) and the Democrats (a.k.a.: Liberal Big Spending Porkbarrelers). Since the 1992 elections, there has been

third

party in the race, the Reform Party (a.k.a.: $lhackos).

Through an efficient series of State-level primary elections lasting

little more than 10 months, we the people tell these dweebs who we want them to put forward as candidates to represent their parties on "E-

DAY". They then throw lavish coming oLlt parties, called conventions, where they have lots of balloons, banners, and competitions as to who can do the worst rendition of the National THD CoRÌESPONITENT

October 1996

ye ar,

this year's teams

in their hearts that they are prepared to cast theirvote forTHE FUTURE OF AMERICA. Now, let's review the issues be-

are stellar.

ing put forward to challenge the

The incumbent (their guy won the last time) Democrats have re-signed Bill " SHck rX¡illie " Clinton as their Quarterback for an undisclosed salary and future pardons based on per-

American voter in this the last pfesi-

formance. Also returning as Spear Catcher is Al "Vote For Me In 2000" Gore. The loyal opposition Republicans are giving it both barrels with Bob "I Remember V-E Day" Dole for the top spot and Jack "'ùØhere's My Helmet"

Kemp as Blocker to provide a formidable challenge to the incumbents. The not-to-be-forgotten Reform Parfy are once again fronting Ross "Hair"

Perot and his running mate, Pat "Vho???" Choate.

It is now just a week from "EDAY" and the campaign issues are achieving laser-like focus. The Commission on Presidential Debates, set Lrp over 200 years ago by our founding fathers to ensure that Sunday Night Football would not be pre-empted by political drivel, was able to segue the nationally televised Presidential Debates between Geraldo and Late Night !(zithJennifer Flowers. As a result, the American voting public now fully understands the issues and can enter the

polling booth on "E-DAY" confident

rights, to family leave, those guys expect women to keep their yaps shut.

A more important consideration

age. Canwe trustaT3-year-old man

the White House who still refers to the BROOKLYN DODGERS and goes 'We

don't around falling off stages. need another Gerald Ford at the helm. Fortunately, the Reform Party candidate, Ross Perot, is providing a measured balance to this year's Presidential campaign. This is exemplified by his devotion to everyAmerican's Constitutional right to litigation. At this point in the campaign, he has threatfrom the ened to sue everyone

lege, and these are the people who elect a President in DECEMBER, and they DO NOT HAVE TO ELECT THE GTry TøHO GOT THE MOST VOTES IN NOVEMBER! But, this is a subject for another time.

* For in-depth coverage of "EDLY 1996" visit the Web at: httpi//

www.slick. willie.com. Ion Rittger ìs Vice President tions, Asict Pacific

for

Commun¡cct-

Digiteil Equ¡þment

Corporation

Commission of Presidential Debates,

for not inviting him to participate in the Clinton-Dole debates, to his barber, for missing his daily 10:30 haircut. Under his tutelage, the Reform Party is destined to be a voice to be heard in American politics. As the process careens toward "E-DAY" on the 5th of November, we can rest easy in knowing that the American voters DO NOT ELECT THE PRESIDENT on that date or any other date,forthat matter. The voters elect representatiyes to the Electoral Col-

Views expressed in 'Purely Personal'are those ofthe author. The board and publications committee of the FCC do not necessar+

ily agree.

* If you have a lighthearted piece, or even something on which you have stronglyheldviews, and

you would like to contribute under 'Purely Personal, please call the editor.

dential election of the millennium. One would immediately assume that the most pressing issues facing the nation are maintaining economic gfowth, unemployment, poYerty, education and Saddam. But, NO! The candidates for the PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA hal¡e transcended these mundane issues for a higher plain.

The Republicans are going straight for the jugular. Key elements of their platform include: abolition of the Department of Education; opposition to single-sex marciages; and op-

position to U.S. military troops serving in U.N. peacekeeping operations under foreign commanders. Can you imagine Pfc. Yokum serving under Kapitan Schultz at the Wembley peace keeping zone and not being able to

lftre painting of ttre ¡zellovz line outside tkre Clul> evoked rrlrctr colaanleltt frorrr rlrernl>ers- BLrt onl;. ifed iftrorrras kras done sorraetkting aboLrt itof

The

the Triad Society Bureau some 20 years ago for a BBC film

much abuse as atrallic planner, and most FCC members joined the torrent of abuse that was called down on the genius who had the yellow line painted on the kerbside all the way from the top of Ice House Street to way down below the Ying and Yang Club, obliging our increasingly frail members to stumble down Ice House Street before being able to hail a taxi. Quite apart from this, the yellow line effectiYely caused all taxís that frequently stopped to pick up and set down

on Hong Kong's finest. In those days, the intrepid Scot wore plain (if a mite trendy) clobber, and had a Beatles' haircut that made him look like a roadie for the Rolling Stones. He's still the good, no-nonsense cop, that should stand him in good stead when he takes the reins at PPRB in November. But as far as our yellow lines are concerned, they are still "looking into it".

obody, with the exception of the editor Corresþonclent, gets

find out where the potty is? But, paramount in Bob Dole's

outside the Fringe Club, to carry on straight down to Central where the rush-hour traffic is a perpetual logjam.

Brilliant!

seru i ces for expa I s de-exþa I ri a

strategy is the "L" word. Unbeknownst to most Americans, Bill Clinton is

effîcient cops and District Commander of'Wanchai, brought

For funher informâtion contacl

arapid response. Not his bailiwick said the gallantHatry, but immediately passed my letter on to the "right quarters". All good training for Harry Blud, who I worked with in a former life, kicking down doors on midnight raids with

Iynne Bridge

secretly developing "a million little plans to spend your money and rob the future of all the young people". This is serious. We all knowwhat can happen if the L---S get back into the'White House. Before you know it, the whole neighborhood is gone. We

A letter to Harry Blud, one of Hong Kong's most

þrouide

besþoke programmes ri

of ng

to Scotland

P0 Box 97, EdìnbLrrgLr EH9 lYT, Scotland, UK Tel: + (44) t31 441 6652 Fax: + (44) t3t 466 9191 e mail: dxs@xpat demon co rk

DE-,úPATR IATION SERVICES

October 1996 TÃE

C0Rf,f,SP0IVDDNT

The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong

Eyewitness on As隆q Up to 1 997 ond Beyond 24O x 300mm, 224 poges (full colour ond duotone) Hordcover (linen bound) The FCC Book I 997 is on unique onthology of reportoge ond insight, on qlmonoc of wqr ond remembronce, but olso q look ot times to come, qs well os o reference book for those who ore interested in iournolism qnd the mediq of Hong Kong. lt will be volued os on essenliol tool for everyone reporting on the historic events thot will chonge Hong Kong ond

Chino. Distinguished writers debote the future of our profession, os well os different ospects of Chino ond Asiqn politics. The best photogrophers offer their imoges of Asiq. Eyewitness on Asio will be o voluoble gift for everyone who is interested in next yeor's chonges. The book deqls with oll ospects of the FCC, the entertoining ond the serious ones; storting with Chungking, the move to Shonghoi qnd then to Hong Kong; stories, onecdotes, essoys ond clippings, oll interwoven with the history of modern Chino ond the rise ond success of Hong Kong. A foscinoting reod, o feost for the eyes is promised. The book will come out on November 15, 1996 ond will be ovoiloble through the FCC only. The price per copy is HKD 3贸8.00.

5UB5ERIBE NOW TA RESERVE YOUR OWN PIEEE OF HIIjTORY ANN !.AVE PAY"

THE

Buy os mony copies qs you wont for HKD 294.00 eoch until October After this dote the purchose price will be HKD 3贸8.00.

DIARIES

T997 FCC

The FCC 1996 range of executive diaries is now available at'club' prices. Each has been specially produced with a wealth of important information, in either black imported bonded leather or calf skin for the wallet. All feature a discreet club logo and your name, if requested. Avoid disappointment and order early as stocks are limited. Allow three weeks for personahzing with your name or initials.

A. The FCC Desk Diary. 58 weeks in popular week-to-view format; international public holidays; world atlas and lift out directory. $ B. The FCC Compact Desk Diary. New convenient size of 164 x 2lOmm. Popular week-toview diary; international public holidays; general information and lift-out directory.

305.00

D. The FCC Address Book. Handy pocket size with international IDD codes and world time chart.

tr tr

FCC Desk Diary

FCC Pocket Diary

305.00 HK$ r92.00 HK$

FCC Compact Desk Diary

r92.00

plus my name/initials (nax 24 letters,

Please

will toke the opportunity ond order discount of ?OTo

copy/copies of The FCC Book with q

Pleose chorge the omount of HKD

(249.O0 per copy until Oct. 3l

tr membership occounl tr Moster Cord

HK$

E Viso cord No.

Nome:

Dqte of expiry:

bill to my account

postoge rotes)

Name: Account No.

80.00

Please telephone:

Nome:

Signature:

when units are available

to be collected at the Club office. Please allow at lecLst rhree weeks

FAX TO: 2868 4092 The Foreign Correspondents' Club, LowerAlbert Road, Hong Kong

, 1 99贸) to my

no.

tr I will collect the book(s) ot the FCC tr Pleose send to (pocking ond moiling HKD 45.00 for one copy, odditionol

TOTAI,

70.00

HKS

70.00 HK$ _ HK$ 80.00 HK$ HK$ Js.00 HK$ _ -

lo The Foreign Correspondents' Club, 2 Lower Alberl Rood Hong Kong or

Fax to + 852-2868 4092

HK$

tr FCC Address Book

C. The FCC Pocket Diary. 58 weeks in the

popular week-to view format; international public holidays and general information.

ORDER FORM

^-- MaiI gour order now

31, 1996 (dote of postoge of order).

Address: Signoture:

copies occ. to

They announced that for five thousand US dollars they could arrange a helicopter.

Ceaucesctl's paradise

The alternative was to try and make

our way flom place to place in one of those wonderftll East European cars buying petrol coupons on the black market.

opted for the helicopter and to get the price clown to

managed

Steel \ùØorks (some 200 miles north

This was just priof to when Mr and Mrs

west of Bucharest), visit Iasi (another

Ceaucescu met their timely demise.

350 miles north

was engaged in one of those 'what

you do for a living' conversations with the English gentleman sittingnext to me in which l duly explained to him that my company employed me as a c1o

sh!# hole specialist.

He laughed and askecl, "How the

hell do you know when you're at

sh!# hole". As luck would have it, we were making oul' approach. All I saicl was "look out your window".

Romania being the paranoid country that it was, and to some extent still is, clicln't let me down. There were the anti-aircraft gun emplacements, tanks, camoufl age, and

lots of guys with AK-47s, all the necessarf ingredients for a proper sh!#t

hole. SØe taxiecl by the MiG fighters and parked approximately 15 metres from

the terminal building. 'VØe

then hacl to wait. Twenty minlltes later the kind gentleman with the AK 47 came on boarcl, shouted something in Romanian, ancl escorted us to the bus which clrove in a circle the flrll 15 metres to the terminalwhere

we were met by more guys with AK 47s ancl lots of other guys in black leather jackets and sunglasses.

All in all, these guys

almost

olrtnlrmbered the passengers. Processing was the typical two to three hour job. THE CORRXSP0I{DDNT October 1996

base. I was instructecl to keep quiet and try not to look at anlthing. Good trick.

The helicopter was of Russian origin and the pilot's door was held closed by cord. The thing rattled and shook all the way to the military base

of Galati near the

masses.

wide.

'Sl'e stoocl

in the square packed with people, lots of guys with black leather jackets, ancl even more guys with AK 47s, fueezing our butts off in the snow waiting for Ceaucescu to make his appearance.

Bnt what an appealùnce it was. Martial music blared through the

<>f

car uzith the engine tea-1aa

The senior guy from the base wasn't impressed. My interpreter said that he wanted us off the base and he had no

available transpolt for Lrs to Lrse . The fact that we weren' t supposed to be on the base was anotlÌer matter

at the

was teaching my minders how to slam back Tequilas. My hosts joined in and that prettl' much took care of that day, evening and the next morning. 'We stumbled into the lobby arouncl 10.30 and were informed that the gas coupons hadn't materialisecl. My minders, who had now become my best fliends, said that they knew a way ancl we should wait until they got back. A few beers to take the eclge off and our minders retllrned.

speech and a good thing too.

This place looked like someone

tl-re fr<>r-rt-

had dropped

nuclear bomb on it and

the people had just crawled out of their shelters ancl were trying to get their lives back together. The rest of the trip pretty much mirrorecl the fftstpart, arguing, bribing,

toasting ancl travelling.

The food was pitiful, the booze

like champagne, but the company was interesting to macle Tequila look say the least.

iftre Clrrb l;:as arranged reciprocal prirzileges at ttre additional

were Pink Floycl fans. Whoa.l Lls

Offwe slushed to the steel works. These people hadn't heard Ceaucescu's

Reciprocal clubs

There's a thought; the Ceaucesclr's My hosts caught up with

of sorts.

Bells.

trorses hitckred Lrl? to

l;racl a car,

was a car with the

front. Kincl of a ne\ñ/ theme on Jingle

a-nd front uzindshield

relTìoved and a

engine and front windshielcl removecl and a team ofhorses hitched up to the

dungeons and dragons game.

More martial music and the stage moved back into the builcling. Quite impressive. He mllst have gotten the idea from Pink Flo1'd. I remember at one oftheir concerts, they also had a hyclraulic stage which moved back ancl ft-¡rth ove r tlìe auclience.

Intercontinental hotel bar as

'Well actually

sorts.-- it vza-s a

The atmosphere changed. Smiles.

that came apart when they realised that they dicln't have the required petfol coupons. \ùØhile they scrambled around looking for coupons, I toured the city with my two new-found friends in

They showed me the new

This was beginning to feel like

<:ar,

Money changed hancls. Some sort of white, vodkaLike liquicl was producecl and we toasted to our new friendship, Mr Ceaucescu, Mrs Ceaucescu, all the Ceaucescus' children, the snow, the bottle and the Russian military adviser who had jllst entered the room and who insistecl on toasting the whole Kremlin.

were giving their all for the good of the

Presidential Palace where I was lucky enough to witness a speech given by the beloved leader. The Palace itself was massive, and if my memory selves me well, I believe it was six storeys tall and three blocks

near Galati. tü{hen we arrived at the base olrr next problem was how to get to the steel works. Taxis were yet to be invented in Galati.

collpons. Bnt the farmer

Br-rt th.e farrrrer fl.ad a

Everyone started arguing and

Onr hosts, the Galati Steel !Øorks,

black leather jackets and sunglasses. The sun never carne out while I was there and I think they actually slept with these things on.

After a short while ancl more toasts, a vehicle arrived ancl took us off the base. '!Øe travellecl fbr twenty minlrtes to a farm and were dropped there.

offer

shouting. The helicopter ride didn't help our hangovers and our minders were in a foul mood.

had arranged grouncl transpoft, but

eist.

I told the interpreter to

Finally one of the guards announced

he hacl a consin with a car.

money.

sqlrare and out came the man and his

deputies on a giant hyclraulic stage which was on the thircl storey. The stage lnoved out slowly from the btrilcling to lhe squate. The speech went on My interpreter said he was telling the people how great the economy of the collntry was and how he and the Mrs

inland transport to all intents and pulposes other than military, didn't

Our interpreter startecl sweating bullets (in minus 10 degree weather) ancl I started to get this sinking feeling. One of the minclers bolted for the door.

Now what? No more petrol

Off we went to the local military

My mission was to visit Galati

Ukrainian borcler) and back down to Constansa ( a Black Sea port 500 miles south of Iasi). All seemed quite simple except (1) itwas lateJanuary and snowing and (2)

were sh!#t facecl. Our transpoft problems were not getting solved but we were having one hell of a palty.

$4ooo.

Da¡.id Garc.ia popped over to Rorna-rtia f<>r a quick visit- lfhe idea szas t>usiness; the result sorrreuztrzrt differel-l.t to the original plan is detailecl here-

I f.* years back I lound myself on ,[ \a flight to Bucharest Romania.

'W'e

and my being a foreigner on a military base without permission was unspeakable.

follolrzing clut>s

Bombay

Singapore

Sri I^anka

Golden Swan Country Club

Ceylon Sports Club

Colombo Swimming Club

76 Regency Park 7th Road, Near Khar Subway Santacruz @) Bombay 4O0055, India

Balkestier Road Singapore 329678

Storm Lodge P.O. Box 863

Telephone:

Fax:

lol

Colombo 3

Telephone: 297lOO9/ 298629r/

6t75178 6175179

Telephone: 21645

2981502

617 4517 /617 4518/

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Facilities include swimming pool, tennis, billiards and snooker, library, fwo restaurants and limited residential

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tennis, netball, billiards and darts.

card required.

Located 27 km from international airport, 30 krn from domestic airport. October 1996 TÃÊ

CORRf,SPoIDXNT

So, I was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital, specially

Life after a stroke

equipped to deal with cases like mine.

uselessly at my side, often getting entanglecl in the wheel of my chair. Now it began to move

The day after my arrival, the

One morning at breakfast, entirely

treatment began. "Get up," said the plrysiotherapist. Of course, she hacl to be joking. Couldn't she see I was a bedridden

unpredicted, my right hand snatched up the porridge spoon ancl fed me a mouthful. It happened automatically, without any apparent instruction from my brain. The next spoonful went in my eye, but no matter. My right hand hacl scorecl a notable victory. Then came the day when I was

invalid?

"Get up," she repeated, closely watclÌing my reaction. "l can't,'' Iwhined.

se\zere stroke- itrhis is kris story of the figkrt back to fr-rll ph)zsica-l fitness-

"You will," she said, ancl she was right. It took two and a half months but I got up and, after a fashion, I walked. There were difficult times. Every day I was taken to a gymnasium

f I

t struck me as mildly fr,rnny for thc

firra hour or two, as, while consciousness lasted, I watchecl people

flapping around me muttering conspiratorially, endlessly consulting, with tired, anxious faces. To my fading mind the cause of their excitement wasn't altogether clear. I observed them with an incurious detachment, virtually a disembodied spectator, as though the drama in which I starred actually centred on someone else. I had trouble realising that the inert figure on the bed was none other than

myself, 73 and overweight, a semi-retired journalist who had just repaired to bed, tuning in to the 11 o'clock newsfromLon-

don, with

headline re-

port from Bosnia, more

trouble in Afric a and Chechnya, when an

unfamiliarwave

of nausea suddenly overwhelmedme. I slid

down in to a dizziness which constantþ threatened but somehowfailed completely to engulf me.

I wasn't the only one trying to figure out

what was happening. My wife feared I was having aheart attack. It was an expectable

danger in my persistent state of being overweight.

THE C0RRXSPOIIIDEI{T 6ç¡6¡¡s¡ 1996

The silly thing was, I didn't care!

All I bothered about was the

persistent clizziness. There was no pain,

no particular discomfort. I fidgeted restlessly, rolling on to my side. That, as it turned out, was quite the wrong thing to do. Before anyone could stop me, I had slithered off the

bed and on to the floor. There I lay tightlywedged between the bed and a heavl' rosewood side table, beyond the ministrations of mywife and eldest

son, who had arrived hot-foot from across town.

There was nothing for

it but to

call an ambulance. It took not one but

two ambulance crews to prise me free, heave me on to a stretcher and away. Yellow street lights fell back behind us, oxygen hissed in my face, and then I was being trundled into

the casualty department for examination by a harassed young intern. Reality by now was retreating fast.

I lay very still, feeling no particular pain; even the feelings of nausea seemed to have vanished. Slowly, I passed in to a state of semiconsciousness which was to last three

weeks. I leamed afterwards that my arrival

caused problems. The neuro wards were fti1l. There was nowhere to plrt

me. But in the small hours of the morning, while wife and eldest son kept nervons vigil, a bed somewhere fell vacant. Its occupant had died. A posse of nurses wrestled me into it, after the sheets hacl' been changed, and events became hazy indeed.

I later learned it was close to dawn

when my family left. They now knew I had not sufferecl al:ieart attack. I was the victim of afarrly severe stroke. The doctors feared at first that I had no chance of recovery. "He won't come out of here alive," was how it was put to my wife. At best, I woulcl neverwalk again. Nobocly said anything like that to me,

of course, even if I could

have understoocl them; I was being shuttled between crowded wards, oblivious to practically everything. Initial casualty of my illness, my wife told me later, was my usual good humour. The stroke made me peevish and fretful, anxious only to be left alone. I apparently told second son, who flew down from Hong Kong, to get the hell out of my sight! But awareness gradually returned.

I found myself

a helpless invalid, paralysed down my right side, unable to stand and with a dangling right arm. Nurses had to feed, bath and take me

to the lavatoly. I was rednced to

basket case, waiting to be liftecl in ancl

out of a wheelchair. The realisation should have left me terribly depressed. But not a bit of

it. In spite of everything, I felt ridiculously confident. It never occurred to me that I would not get

better. My present embarrassments, I tolcl myself, were only temporary. The

ever-patient staff encouraged my unspoken optimism, especially when I showed the first signs of recovery. Theyhad clone all they could, however; it was now up to specialists to continlre the repairs.

and taught to Lrse my limbs again. I stepped on and offboxes, exercised my LÌnresponsive right arm ancl leg, ancl finally managed to walk, step after faltering step.

The stroke, I was told, had sev-

ered communication between my brain and my right arm and leg. The command line to

those had somehow to be reconstituted, or new nefve paths established. It could not

able to button my shirt without assistance. To shave with an electric razor: to shower myself; and walk unescorted to the toilet. Snch sweet milestones! Surely I could go home

standards either. BLlt somehow I have

managed to muddle through, buoyed

by the belief that in the end I would succeed.

Here

I am, 14 months

later, able

to hobble short distances.

After all, I have been back to Hong

It wasn't that easy. A shock

Kong ancl to Beijing since my stroke ancl am planning a further retllrn trip soon. I look forward to seeing you all in the FCC. Cheers!

awaited me. After the well-orderecl, closely monitored life of the hospital, things did not go

Russell Spnrr can be contacted on e-mail: rspulr@wl com au

now?

"Get Lrp," said ttre

Eæ

too smoothly at first. I fell over a fewtimes, and on

12hSzsiother'¿I?ist-

Of cor-rrse, stre trad to be joking- Cor-rldn't sh.e see I uzas

bedridcten invalicl?

be done over-

night. One of the first people to coax

my limbs back in to action was

young Malaysian Chinese in the final

year of his physiotherapy course at

Sydney University. !øith infinite patience, he schooled me in the art of

flexing my fingers, picking up things like paperclips and, above all, in

one occasion eldest son had to tre summoned to get me up again;

my wife coulcl not lift me. There were no end of madclening little problems. Help had to

be called in for little household chores

that would not ordinarily have taken five minutes. Mending a shatterecl ornament became amajor operation. So was changing a fuse. And taking out the garbage. My poor wife, who'd previousl¡' suffered a lesser stroke, could not alwal s cope.

painstakingly relearned. Day after day

The worst news was that my driving licence had been cancelled. It's done alltomatically - and quite rightly in these cases. Back to sqllare

he worked on me with exhausting

one. I was ordered to learn to drive all

persistence.

over again.

walking. Movements taken for grantecl

since childhood had to

Things did not alwal's

Dl0rrffr0lHL (0lril0f Professionol Contocts (pog. 5) is o meons by

which wr¡ters, iournolists ond relevont people in the profession con reoch

your compony ond ¡ts corporote offoirs stoff. Shouldn't your compony be in lhere? With o colour logo, contoct nomes ond numbers, the cost is o mere $ZOO per month for six issues; $¿OO per month if you toke o full yeor (l I

smoothly. Once I stumbled and fell to

That proved far harder than I thought. Out on the road, in the

the gymnasium floor. My young

demented Sydney traffic,I found I was

instflrctor threw himself beneath me to cushion my fall. Greater sacrifice hath no man ...

terrified. You would ttever have

Send your ortwork or

thought I had been drMng for neady

We went on immecliatelywith our exercises. There were no reptoaches, only whispered words of encouragement that got me teetering to my feet. tùØithout warning, my right arm returned to life. It had been hanging

Things were not made easier by having to drive with my left foot (and

logo to The Correspondenl c/oThe FCC. You will be invoiced eoch month fol lowing publicotion.

wheelchair is needed for protracted trips. Nor can I write very well, at least by hand. But there is still the word processor ancl, thank Heavens, the Internet. The politically correct word for my condition is 'impaired'. I would rather call it 'down but not olrt'.

50 years.

have the cat specially modified) because my light leg was too stiff and tmresponsive. And the driving habits of a lifetime were not up to the latest

issues).

ocrober 1996 THE CORAXSP0IìIItENT

Experiencíng

the

FCC Golf Society Rich.ard Hugtres and Serliors Troptr¡. Garnes Fa.nling - Septernber L2

os oPentng y As o sister compony to Asio On-Line Ltd,

Worldlink Communicotions

Ltd provides you

outstonding lnternet service most efficient links ovoiloble. Tlr¡rd þlaced tuIitcb Daaídson on tbe

You con now meet people, communicote with friends qnd relolives, find gomes, books, music

Íirst

tee

Mutvay Burton receiues ø bottle of scotclt from Juliøn Walsb for bís breatbless second þlétce

ond get the weirdest, the most omozing collection of informolion the world hos ever

he (sort of) annual Richard Hughes and Seniors trophy

seen...

oll without leoving your computer.

$ I 50.-

organisational constfaints, no

Stella Ng and Paul Strahan, was Mitch Davidson. Keyin and Murray got a bottle of scotch, and Mitch an umbrella kindly donated by Chris Fraser of the British Trade Commission. As long as the word 'English' does not

challenged members.

(includes 50 hours free conneclion,

The winner of the Seniors is the with the lowest score after deducting both

player

hourly chorge $2.

)

PNETS CHARGE.

Nome Address

Tel

quality of golf. Frank Casey was

Kevin Murphywith36 points. second

casualty of the sun (or in his case, Sol),

turnout of

Worl

Fox:

Worldtink Communicqtions Limited

was

5/F, Pork Avenue Tower, 5 Moreton Terroce,

Cousewoy Boy, Hong Kong

T"l , 2l I I 3333 orFox:28822358 t__

Cørespondont 9ó-09

A member oî Asia Communicafions

Aøøat

Keith Statbaût

truly, each win-

ning a case of Dragon's Back

microbrew ale donated by Crooked Island Brewery. If it was not for the rule that

The Seniors competition pro-

Hughes trophy

an excellent

est drives went to Fred Coward and su4rrisingly- yours

appear anywhere on the brolly, Mitch might even use it!

35 players.'Winner of the Richard

the gross score. There was

_-.l

Nearest the pin prizes went to Paul Strahan and Kevin Murphy, while long-

Third, after a count-back with

duced a remarkable result in that Ken Bridgewater won with a spectacular five points. He hit a gross 86 on a handicap of 13, so the numerate amongst you can now work out his age. Ken won a large bottle of scotch, donated by John Handley. The heat slowed a few people down, or was used as an excuse for the

his handicap andhisagefrom

G;;'-*'u*;;J'*r,*.*r"'";* -

points was Murray Buft on,

Fanling at7 .58 for an 8.00 t€e-offtime.

Monthly chorge is only

competitions were held at Fanling on September 12, on a very hot day. Due

toumament has been held for the last couple ofyears. The Richard Hughes trophy is the main FCC Golf Society competition (Stableford format) and the Seniors trophy is for historically

place with

who did well given that he arived at

but won the Diced Carrots Award

Paul Strøban nearest

tlJe

the

þ¡n

on the fairway, John

Schidlovsþwould

have won. His drive

the club, as - to was club so long that he had to stop for petrol and then pay ataxidriverto leadhim to Fanling! opposedto with

Julian Walsh Secretary, FCC

compensation.

__l

2 t I r

3333

longest

drive had to be

October 1996 TÃE

CORRESPoIII¡DI{T

uam F est

Clifton heads for New Delhi

The Club took a break from the serious business of world affairs one Thursclay night, for a taste of the Pacific islands. Members and guests were treatecl to the tantalising taste

Netusueek's Tony Clifton helcl the usual

well attended farewell party at the Club.

of the Pacific Islancls Club's ex-

ecutive sous-chef, Ronnie Guillermo's culinary skills and

the exotic talents of the

Fan-

tasy f)ancers.

Qeft to rigbt) Dauid Tburston, Tony Clifton ancl Keitb Stntbdm

Food, entertainment, cultural exchange, prizes ancl give-

aways were enthusiastically enjoyed by all those present. A special thanks should go to our

executive chef, Albert Chan, Gilbert and the FCC staff who all looked very festive ir their Guam uniforms, and to Art House's Linda Hamilton who designed and suppliecl the colourful coconut palm props. The Guam Fiesta was hosted by the Guam Visitors

Bureau, the Pacific Islands Club ancl Continental Micronesia. QeJt to

riglrt) CJ,nthia

H1d.es, Russell

Cautborne,Jon Rittger,

Tony acceþts a Club tie ft'om the þresident

the tnan bimself Tony Clifton, Bruce ùIaxutell

Re-opening Pafi A wild parry was held to celebrate the reopening of the Club. Äs the photos indicate ... a good time was had by all.

THE C0RRISPOI\IDEI|T October. 1996

October 1996 THI

CORR.ESP0NDENT

Charlie's wake

New members ( -< > rrc'sp<> n clc

Awake was held for Chadie Smith - one he would detinitelyhave been sad to miss. It developed into a party which Chadie would, without a shadow of a doubt, have approved of.

r-r

Christopher

Michael

Wright

Seery

<-'

r-rr

l>e'r-s Eric rùlishart

Dan Dan Chang

Cbarlie's utidou,t Kim sings utbile Lany Allen plays

Íor

Charlie

for

tbe leßt tìme.

AIlen

Peter

Cheng

Hercombe

Daniel Renduf

ê a € .a

Kim. Larry and Pacita Roads

Kim, Cbarlíe's níeceJo1 and Fred Frederìcks

-f <>rr

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Octobe¡ 1996 TIID C0RRDSP0IIIIEIIT

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